Pipe handling device



May 23, 1933. J. A. SMITH PIPE HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 51, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invcn for May 23, 1933. J. A. SMITH PIPE HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 31, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In van or Joszpfifl gnu/7% M ylgg flllomey Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH A. SMITH, OF OLDEN, TEXAS PIPE HANDLING DEVICE Application filed May 31, 1982. Serial No. 614,516.

This invention is a device for handling pipe, and in accordance with the presentinvention a device is provided that is especially adapted for use in the operation incident to the removal of used malns and partlcularly oil mains.

Especially in oil fields, after an oil well has been completely worked, it is the practice to remove the now unnecessary main or mains and such removal requires the excavating of the trench in which the main is, and heretofore such excavation has been effected by manual labor, and in some instances a plow is employed for digging the trench to a sufiicient depth to enable access to be had to the main so that subsequent operation may be performed necessary to entirely remove the main from its trench.

In accordance with the present invention a device is provided which will excavate the trench to substantially its full depth and which will at the same time raise the pipe above the bottom or floor of the trench to a suflicient level as to be easily and subsequent- 1y completely removed.

Further, in accordance with the present invention the main for a material length thereof may be removed without requiring separation of the several sections of the main.

The invention together with its numerous objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following descrip tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device, and illustrative of the manner of use of the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the front or forward portion of the device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the rear or trailing part of the device.

Figure 5 is a front end elevational view, certain parts being shown in section.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein, what is now considered the preferred form of the invention is illustrated, it will be seen that the same comprises what may be generally termed an excavator and which is designated generally by the reference character l0.

The excavator 10 comprises a pair of side plates 11, 12 which plates have their upper edges inclined as at 13 adjacent the rear ends of the plates and convexed as at 14 adjacent the forward ends of the plates. In this connection it will be noted that the plates have their opposite ends tapered and at their forward ends extend downwardly and forward ly and having substantially flat surface engaging bases 15.

Fixedly secured between the forward end 9 of the plates 11, 12, is what may be termed a plow designated generally by the reference character 16. The plow 16 is formed of a casting and consists of a pair of shares 17 welded or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the plates 11, 12, and connected adjacent their upper ends by a web 18 that, as shown in Figure 3 is substantially wedge shaped in transverse section. At its forward edge the web 18 isprovided with a downwardly extending lip 19.

Mounted between the plates 11, 12, is a platform designated generally by'the reference character 20. The platform 20 preferably consists of two metal plates including a lower metal plate 21 and an upper metal plate 22. The plates 21, 22 intermediate the ends of the sides 11, 12 have portions 21a, 22a disposed in'substantially horizontal planes from which forward end portions of the plate slope downwardly and forwardly and at their forward ends are supported on the web 18 of the plow 16.

The side 12 of the excavator '10 is provided with a notchforming a lateral discharge 9 opening 23 for the excavator adjacent to the portions 21a, 22a of the platform plates 21, 22, and a curved wall 24 extends between the sides 11, 12 of the excavator, the wall 24 merging with the sides 12 adjacent the rear end of the discharge openin 23 as best shown in Figure 2. It will thus e seen that during excavating Operation the dirt forced up the platform 20 will be directed by the wall 24 toward the outlet 23 to discharge from the excavator to one side of the channel or ditch being excavated and will be deposited on the ground exteriorly of the ditch.

The rear end of the excavator is sup- 10 ported in aslightly elevated position throu h the medium of a shoe designated general y by the reference character 25. The shoe 25 consists of a casing and comprises what may. be termed a foot or base portion 26 having its under face at the forward end thereof beveled as at 27 so as to permit limited depression of said end so that the same may readily pass beneath the ipe to be removed from the ditch. Rising rom the foot 26 of the shoe are sides 28 and a transverse pivot in 29 pivotally connects the sides 28 at their orward ends to the sides 11, 12 of the excavator at a point slightly rearwardly of the horizontally disposed portion 21a, 22a of 26 platform 20.

Shoe also serves to support the rear end of the platform and in this connection it will be noted that the plate 21 of the platform has an inclined lower end 211) which at its rear 30 ed e is formed into a sleeve receiving a cross rod 30 supported between the sides28 of the shoe. The foot 26 of the shoe is provided in its top face and adjacent its forward end with a 86 transverse groove accommodating a roller 31 of relatively small diameter while adjacent its rear end the shoe 26 is provided with a transverse groove supporting a roller 32 of relatively greater diameter. The rollers 31, 32 have their peripheries disposed slightly above the plane of the top face of shoe 26 and accommodate a portion of the pipe being raised as shown in Figure 3.

The invention also comprehends the pro- 46 vision of a trailer designated generally by thereference character 33. The trailer 33 comprises a pair of side plates 34 between which is suitably mounted a caterpillar designated generall by the reference character 35. The caterpi lar 35 disposed between the sides 34 may be of any suitable construction and in the present instance I have shown the same as consisting merely of a pluralit of relatively spaced rollers over which is trained an endless tread or belt of suitable material. Supported between the forward ends of the sides 34 in advance of the caterpillar is a roller 36. Supported between the rear ends of the sides 34 and slightly rearwardl with re-' spect to the caterpillar 35 is a secon roller 37 that has its axis dis osed in a horizontal plane slightly above t e horizontal plane of the axis of roller 36.

The trailer 33 is hitehed or connected with the shoe 25 through the medium of a draft drawings. The plates 38 prevent the sides V of the ditch caving inwardly of the ditch.

The plow 16 between the shares 17 supports in proximity to the shield 19 a roller 40. It will be also noted that each of the rollers 31, 32, 36, 37 and 40 is grooved to accommodate the pipe or main to be lifted from the excavated ditch.

It is intended that a suitable draft device be employed, and to this end the excavator 10 is provided with a pair of hitch bars 41 pivoted at one end as at 29 to the sides 11, 12, of the excavator adjacent the rear end of the excavator and in proximity to the lower edge portion of the sides 11, 12 (see Figure 1). In order to facilitate cleaning of the excavator 10 and to reduce to a mmimum undesired clinging of the dirt to the platform 20, the top plate 22 of the platform is curved transversely and has its concave face disposed upwardly. The bottom plate 21 is flat and serv;s)as a brace for the plate 22. (See Figure As before intimated this invention is especially designed for excavating a ditch or channel in which is located an oil main and in this connection it might be stated that an oil main is disposed in a ditch ranging in depth from eighteen to twenty-five inches. In 0 eration the oints of the plow shares 17 are orced int-o t e ground at some point in the length of the ditch to be excavated, preferably at one end of the ditch, and the device hitched to a tractor is then pulled lengthwise of the ditch. As is a parent, this results in the plow shares ging into the ound at the sides of the ditc and the earth tween the sides of the excavator will be scraped on to the platform 20, and as the device continues forwardly the dirt will pass rearwardly to discharge through the opening 23 at the side of the ditch. As the device moves forwardly the roller 40 will enga e the top side of the main 43 as shown in the rawings while the forward end 27 of the shoe 25 wi 1 pass beneath the main 43. Thus it will be a parent that as the device moves forwar ly the main 43 will be raised and as the trailer 33 passes under the main with the rollers 36, 37 of the trailer engaging the under side of the main, said main will gradually be disposed in the inclined position suggested in the drawings, and in this manner elevated to a point sh htly below the to of the ditch where it canie readily handle for the purpose of total removal from the ditch.

As the device proceeds forwardly plates 39 will serve to prevent the side walls of the excavated portion of the ditch from caving inwardly and impeding the process.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a device which is comparatively simple in construction, and which in operation serves not only to dig the trench, ditch or channel in which the main has been previously laid, but will also, and at the same time, raise the main to a level suflicient to enable the same to be easily removed from the ditch. It will be also apparent that the parts are of such construction, and are so connected together, as to shift easily relative to one another as may be necessary due to the irregularity appearing in the floor or bottom of the ditch.

Even though I have herein shown and described what I consider to be the preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that I reserve the right to make all changes therein as may be required accordin to the peculiar characteristics of the wor to be done by the device and accordingly I in no wise intend to limit the invention beyond the requirements of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: I

1. In a device for reclaiming laid pipe mains, an excavator comprising a plow and a platform extending upwardly and rearwardly from the plow and means operatively disposed relative to the platform for directing the dirt or the like to one side of the ditch being excavated; and a shoe disposed rearwardly of the plow and adapted to pass under the main for raising the latter during progress of the excavation of the ditch.

2. A device for use in removing a pipe main from its ditch, comprising an excavator including a forwardly disposed plow and a' shoe rearwardly of the plow and adapted to pass under the main for initially elevating the latter, a trailer, means connecting the trailer with the shoe rearwardly of the excavator, said trailer being also adapted to pass under the main and being also provided with means engageable with the main for raising the main to a greater height progressively throughout the length of the main.

3. A device for use in raising a pipe main from its ditch comprising an excavator, a shoe carried by the excavator for initiating elevation of the main during progress of the excavator, a trailer rearwardly of the shoe and provided with means disposed above the plane of the shoe for engaging the under side of the main, and two parallel series of interconnected plates connecting the trailer with the shoe and serving to prevent collapse of the walls of the ditch in advance of the trailer.

4. In a device of the character described, an excavator provided with a plow adjacent its forward end and means rearwardly of the plow for raising a pipe main as the excavator progresses lengthwise of the ditch in which the main is laid, means carried by the excavator in operative position to the plow for receivin the loose dirt and directing it laterally of t e ditch at the top of the latter, a caterpillar equipped trailer for progressively increasing the relative angular relation between the pipe and the floor of the ditch, a chain connecting the trailer with the rear end of the excavator and shields extending lengthwise of the chain at relatively opposite sides thereof.

5. In a device of the character described, an excavator comprising a pair of side members, a plow disposed between the side-members at the forward end of the latter and including shares secured to said sides, and a web extending between said shares adjacent the upper end of the latter, a platform having a portion thereof inclined and having its lower end disposed between the shares of said plow, and the sides of said excavator extending above the plane of the platform,. the upper portion of one of said sides being provided with a discharge opening, and a curved wall extending between the s1des of the excavator and connecting with said one side to one side of said opening.

6. In a device of the character described, an excavator comprising a pair of side members, a plow disposed between the side members at the forward end of the latter and including shares secured to said sides, and a web extending between said shares adjacent the upper end of the latter, a platform having a portion thereof inclined and having its lower end disposed between the shares of said plow, and the sides of said excavator extending above the plane of the platform, the

upper portion of one of said sides being provided with a discharge opening, a curved wall extending between the sides of the excavator and connecting with said one side to one side of said opening, a shoe pivoted at its forward end to said sides of the excavator and having a base portion adapted to ride over the ground and serving to support the rear ends of saidexcavator sides above the surface of the ground.

7. In a device of the character described, an excavator comprising a pair of side members, a plow disposed between the side members at the forward end of the latter and including shares secured to said sides, and a web extending between said shares adjacent the upper end of the latter, a platform having a portion thereof inclined and having its lower end disposed between the shares of said plow, and the sides of said excavator extending above the plane of the platform, the upper portion of one of said sides being provided with a discharge opening, a curved wall extending between the sides of the excavator and connecting with said one side to one side of said opening, a shoe pivoted at its forward end to said sides of the excavator and having a base portion adapted to ride over the ground and serving to support the rear ends of said excavator sides above the surface of the ground, a roller sup orted between the plow shares beneath sai web,'a shield for the roller extending downwardly and forwardlyfrom said web, and a pair of relative- 1y spaced transverse rollers supported in the base of said shoe. 4 8. In a device of the character described,

a member comprising a pair of sides, a caterpillar supported between said sides, a roller supported between said sides at one end, a second roller supported between said sides at the other end thereof and having its axis disposed in a horizontal plane above the horizontal plane of the axis of the first named roller.

9. In a device of the character described the combination of a chain, including links andcross pins connecting the links, of a series of vertical plates disposed at each side of the chain and having proximate ends arranged in overlapping relation, and alternate connecting pins of said chain connecting overlapping ends of said plates.

10. An excavator comprising in combination a plow having a pair of oppositely disposed relatively spaced shares, a platform extending upwardly and rearwardly and having its lower end disposed between said shares, a shoe having sides pivoted at one endto the excavator rearwardly of said plow, a base connecting the sides of said shoe, said base havinga beveled under face at its forward end, a transversely disposed roller mounted in the top face of said base,-and a roller supported between said plow shares with its axis in a horizontal plane above the plane of said base.

11. In a device for removing laid pipe mains, a ditch excavator provided with means for hitching it to suitable draft means, and also including a plow and means rearwardly of the glow for directing the dirt laterally of the itch'being excavated, pipe support-- ing and raising means rearwardly of the excavator, and means connectingsai'd pipe raising and supporting means with the excava-' tor and including spaced parallel plates serv- 23%: 1:30 prevent collapse ofthe walls of the In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

u JOSEPH A. s ITH. 

